Stonnall Ward
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Our Village Stonnall Ward (Including Lynn, Thornes, Lower Stonnall, New Barnes, Bosses and Mill Green) (Lichfield District) “It is intended to pull together all the information in the strategy into a comprehensive Village plan that will demonstrate what benefits we can achieve by working together as a Community.” (CLG Web site) Front Runner October 2011 Our Village Stonnall Ward, Lichfield DC. (Including Lynn, Thornes, Lower Stonnall, New Barnes, Bosses and Mill Green) Project Leader Cllr. David Smith, Lichfield DC. Member for Stonnall Ward. Ormside House, Church Road, Stonnall. Staffordshire. WS9 9HL. Tel: (H) 01543 374690 (M) 07831 533550 Email: [email protected] Neighbourhood Planning Front Runner scheme. Dear Sir, October 2011 The community of Stonnall is part of Lichfield DC. Situated in SE Staffordshire on the edge of the West Midlands. Our Village is set in the heart of the green belt and because of its closeness to the conurbation it is regarded as extremely vulnerable. We see the Localism Bill as an opportunity for a small village to show how we can respond to the core message. The Village Plan. “It is intended to pull together all the information in the strategy into a comprehensive Village plan that will demonstrate what benefits we can achieve by working together as a Community” (CLG Website) We believe that our Community is exceptional in the way a small Village of only 1200 adult population works together to deliver many of the things that the Bill hopes to achieve. We also recognise the requirement to address the needs of both an ageing population and those setting out in life. Organisations like Age UK. and The Woodland Trust have asked that we discuss some of our concepts with them. Our submission covers both what we propose together with the action we are already taking and for that reason the document with the attachment to demonstrate what we are already undertaking. The difficulty we face is the cost of professional help to deliver the housing element of the vision which although small by most standards will satisfy our needs analysis. Our strategy is an open living document and is subject to constant improvement through both our groups and residents who are all involved in continuing consultation. Although we may be one of the smallest applicants to seek to become a front runner, should we be successful our recognition may demonstrate to other Villages what can be achieved. The suggestion by the Minister Greg Clark that we should submit an application gave us encouragement that the thrust of the bill was not just for large Councils but could be all encompassing. Yours faithfully Cllr. David Smith District Council House, Frog Lane Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6YU Your ref Switchboard + 44 (0) 1543 308000 Our ref RK/JM Fax + 44 (0) 1543 308200 Ask for Richard King Direct Line + 44 (0) 1543 308060 Email [email protected] Minicom only + 44 (0) 1543 308078 31 October 2011 Alison Cremin Planning - Development Plans Department for Communities and Local Government Eland House, Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DU Dear Sir NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FRONT RUNNERS APPLICATION Please find attached an application for the Neighbourhood Planning front runners programme in respect of the village of Stonnall which falls within Lichfield District. The District Council is working towards the Publication stage of its Core Strategy. To inform its approach towards addressing the long term needs of its rural areas it has been undertaking intensive engagement with its larger and more sustainable rural communities as these are the key focus for potential development. This work has been undertaken in conjunction with CABE and resulted from a successful bid to CLG’s Rural Masterplanning Fund. We have also undertaken work with ATLAS looking at another settlement which has particular complications in planning and development terms. As a slightly smaller village with no significant development proposals via the Core Strategy, Stonnall has not been part of either of these work programmes. However, the community has expressed a very strong desire to begin to plan its own future, in line with the emerging LDF, within the context of the Parish, and within the spirit of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill. The intensive work undertaken by local residents themselves is particularly significant given that the other two key settlements within this parish (Shenstone and Little Aston) are two of the six settlements which formed part of the CLG- funded Rural Masterplanning project, so Stonnall’s work locally would help to complete an overall picture for the Parish and could also help to inform the LDF. We would therefore support this application. I attach a map showing Stonnall Ward. Yours sincerely Richard King FCIS MIMgt Strategic Director – Democratic, Development and Legal Services Democratic, Development & Legal Services Strategic Director Richard K King FCIS MIMgt Minister for Decentralisation Rt.Hon. Greg Clark MP (centre) receives the Stonnall Draft Strategy from Cllr David Smith (right) and local MP Chris Pincher 1) Stonnall - An outline of our Village Stonnall is a village together with its surrounding hamlets of just over 1,200 adults and is situated in South East Staffordshire within the Lichfield District Council area, in the Tamworth Constituency. The village sits on the edge of the West Midlands and looks across the Green Belt into Aldridge. The Community is fiercely independent and looks to be self-supporting with its many and varied activities. These include the Gardeners' Guild, Stonnall Players, Stonnall Singers, Line Dancing, Tai Chi, the Conservation and Historical Society, SCAR (a community campaign group working to improve the local highway infrastructure), the Women’s Institute, the Coffee Club (a weekly community get-together) and Neighbourhood Watch which together with youth and children’s groups that include the Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts, a pre-school play group and baby and toddler groups. There are two Community Halls which provide venues which host a comprehensive range of activities and events; these are heavily used for both daytime and evening activities. Both halls are also extensively used by residents for private functions, there is also an active Parish Church and a Playing Field. Stonnall has a higher than average retired population with many of its residents moving into new homes in the 1950/60s. They brought up their children here and have continued to live here for the majority of their adult lives. Housing ranges from two and three bedroom bungalows to a number of up-market homes. There is a limited amount of social housing that includes some flats. The Village also boasts two public houses and a thriving Primary School now with 131 pupils on the roll. There is a small shopping area which primarily consists of a general store/newsagent, ladies hairdressers, a fish and chip take away and a small restaurant. The Village suffers badly from commuter traffic and speeding vehicles. Stonnall Ward Hammerwich Ward Shenstone Ward Stonnall Ward Little Aston Ward¯ Reproduced from The Ordnance Survey Mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Offices (C) Crown Copyright : License No 100017765 Dated 2011 Key Map supplied by Lichfield District Council Lichfield Boundary Stonnall Ward Over 100 residents pack into the Village Hall for the first meeting re the Village strategy 2) On the 17th June 2011 We called a Village meeting to discuss the opportunities that the Localism Bill could present to our Village; the meeting was open to all residents and was held in the Village hall. The response was outstanding with over 100 residents attending. The concept of the Bill was presented and the way we could take it forward. This consisted of 10 challenges: each challenge was taken on by either one of the Village groups or a lead individual, with the intention of producing a comprehensive Village strategy leading to the development of a Village Masterplan. As a result of this meeting we set-up a series of working groups to report back to a meeting and undertake ongoing consultation with the Village residents. Our Top 10 Challenges 1. To address the needs of our ageing residents and young people under the community right to build we should consider the possibility of a small development of semi sheltered homes and starter homes. 2. To decided how can we develop the viability of our shops and possibly bring back a Post Office. 3. To co-ordinate the Village leisure activities. 4. To address the expectations of our young people. 5. To consider what are our expectations regarding Transport and the commuter traffic in the Village. 6. To decide how we should both protect and develop our trees and woodlands and also our footpaths and buildings of interest. 7. To consider what action we should take to protect our homes and develop community policing. 8. To develop a plan to reduce carbon emissions firstly with our public buildings and then with our homes and also to consider how we can work together to reduce costs. 9. To consider the role of the Church in the Village. 10. To look to improve communications and internet connectivity _____________________________________________________________ 3) Stonnall Strategy Group. Members: Members Expertise Activity Paul Bayliss Town Planner Sustainable Housing Options Jim Pritchard Retired Director of Renewable Energy Options Construction Company Phil Whitehouse Chairman SCAR Highway Strategy Group Peter Terry Historical